Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

On the other side, the atmosphere in Fanxing's rehearsal room seemed to have returned to April, those few rehearsals that were not going well. Everyone was waiting for Iruma Hibiki, and his seat was now empty.

Everyone was worried, but they didn't contact Hibiki Iruma because they were afraid of disturbing her.

"I'll be here a little later. Things have already been sorted."

until--

When Iruma Hibiki's reply appeared on Chihaya Aine's phone, the three people in the rehearsal room breathed a sigh of relief.

"Looks like Hibiki has taken care of it."

I know Hong Xia Xiao Qi (two) is also Jiu⑺san⑷ talking.

"That's true..."

Chihaya Aion responded, but she didn't laugh like Ijichi Nichina or Goto Ichiri. Instead, she looked at Iruma Hibiki's message with a serious and solemn look on her face.

23 Untouchable Love

After being 40 minutes late, Iruma Hibiki finally stepped into the stars.

"How's it going, Iruma?"

After seeing Iruma Hibiki return, the first person to greet him was Ijichi Nijika, with a look of deep worry on her face.

In fact, Ichichi Hongxia can be said to be the person who understands Iruma Hibiki's situation best.

After all, after April, when everything became extremely bad, she actually saw Iruma Hibiki's decadence, sadness and longing every day.

Of course, this also includes that time when Hibiki Iruma chose to treat her gently even though he was covered in wounds.

"It's taken care of, don't worry. I'm sorry I'm late, Chihaya-kun."

"It's okay, but did Iruma-san respond properly to Nagasaki-san?"

Chihaya Aine's tone was relaxed, but her eyes were surprisingly serious, as if she wanted to see through Iruma Hibiki.

"Well, I responded to Nagasaki-san..."

Iruma Hibiki responded softly.

but--

Was his response really a good response?

In fact, maybe he himself doesn't know.

Nagasaki Suyo's indifference at the time of farewell still felt like a dull pain to him even after so long. How could he forget it so easily?

And now, what is the relationship between him and Nagasaki Suyo?

Lover Yi ０ Ying VII ⑷ Wu ⑨ 飼 pull ba?

No, maybe not. After all, the two of them just reconciled but did not mention anything about their relationship.

Friend?

When he thought of this, Iruma Hibiki felt a little suffocated.

The only thing he didn't want to be friends with was Nagasaki Suyo.

This was probably the only thing he was obsessed with at the moment, deep in his heart.

Because, if Nagasaki Suyo became friends...

Iruma Hibiki stopped thinking about this horrible idea and gave a forced smile to Chihaya Aine's suspicious gaze.

"Great! Then let's all head to the lunch area!"

On the side, Ijichi Hongxia was gentle and didn't ask any more questions.

Or perhaps it was because he didn't ask too many questions in such an occasion and became the one to adjust the atmosphere, thus reversing the increasingly worse atmosphere.

"Iruma-san, I feel like this might be a bit nosy, but Nagasaki-san might be unexpectedly cold-hearted. It's best not to believe everything she says."

Chihaya Aine actually struggled for a long time before saying this.

She was troubled by this.

This sentence contains some of her understanding and speculation about Nagasaki Suyo, which may not be correct. As a suggestion, this sentence also has some meaning of speaking ill of others behind their backs.

After listening to it, it was probably not surprising that Iruma Hibiki deducted all her impression points.

However, after knowing and thinking about all this, Chihaya Aine still chose to tell and remind Iruma Hibiki.

because--

When she was most embarrassed, Iruma Hibiki and Ijichi Nijika treated her gently.

Therefore, Chihaya Aine naturally does not want such gentleness to be exploited and betrayed by anyone.

As he watched Chihaya Aine turn around and walk to Ijichi Kouka's side, Iruma Hibiki remained silent.

"Have Iruma-san and Nagasaki-san reunited?"

Goto Ichiri, who had subconsciously walked beside Iruma Hibiki from the beginning, suddenly lowered his head and asked.

She actually surprisingly cared about it.

It's not just because of the distressing love that has not dissipated in her heart until now, but also——

"No."

Iruma Hibiki responded softly.

"But, I can't let go of Shigaraki-san."

Then he added again.

"Eh?!"

Such complex emotions and responses were a little difficult for Goto Ichiri to understand, so she let out a soft exclamation.

"Can't let go means—"

"Ah... I'm sorry. It's okay if you don't want to answer. I was just pushing it too far..."

After following his heart and asking the question that concerned him most, Goto Ichiri quickly began his apology.

as always.

"I can't let it go, I just can't let it go."

Iruma Hibiki responded with some nonsense, then sighed.

"I don't know what I was thinking, but when I saw Su Shi, I was speechless and didn't know what to do."

Iruma Hibiki smiled brightly at Goto Ichiri.

For Goto Ichiri, such a brilliant smile is actually not unfamiliar, and it can even be said that it has been a long time since he saw it.

She had seen such sunshine twice in her life.

Once is now.

Another time——

It was graduation day, their promise of a Christmas bear and salmon.

……

"Iruma! Pochi-chan! Wait, what are you planning on having for lunch? Wait, you and Pochi go grab a seat, and Chihaya-san and I will pay the bill."

At this time, Ijichi Kouka's voice came from the front row, slightly breaking Goto Ichiri's trance.

"Let's go, or we'll be left too far behind."

In front of Goto Ichiri, Iruma Hibiki smiled again.

This time, Goto Ichiri subconsciously reached out and held Iruma Hibiki's sleeve. Iruma Hibiki was stunned for a moment by this action, but then he acquiesced without refusing.

"Follow closely, there are still quite a lot of people in Shimokitazawa at this time."

Before catching up with Ichiya, Nakata, and Chihaya Aine, Iruma Hibiki spoke gently to Goto Ichiri.

"For me, teriyaki chicken rice would be fine."

"Okay, one order of teriyaki chicken cutlet. Where's Goto-san?"

"My words are the same as Iruma-san's."

"no problem!"

"Chihaya-san, would you like to have the omelet rice, grilled hamburger patties, and vegetable salad combo?"

"Yeah, that's right. There should also be a self-service beverage service."

The four of them gradually stood in a row.

And Iruma Hibiki was sandwiched between Goto Ichiri and Chihaya Aine.

"Iruma-san, if what I just said offends you, it's okay not to take it seriously."

Chihaya Aine probably still had some concerns in her heart, so she took the initiative to speak to Iruma Hibiki halfway.

"Chihaya-san is worried about me, how could I hate her? But I don't think Suyo is that kind of person. There must be some misunderstanding between you two."

"Misunderstanding..."

Chihaya Aine repeated Iruma Hibiki's words and then cast her gaze towards the road in the distance.

"Maybe so."

Then she turned her head and smiled deeply at Hibiki Iruma.

"But Iruma-san probably isn't dating Nagasaki-san anytime soon, is he?"

"What? Iruma and Nagahashi are back together?!"

Ijichi Hongxia, who was a little further away, fully confirmed how the rumor was born, and then like a giraffe, she passed Goto Ichiru and poked her head over.

And at this moment, Goto Ichiri——

She clasped her hands together in front of her chest, and because of this movement, her originally loose down jacket was slightly exposed to reveal her perfect figure.

Iruma-san's smile only returned after Nagasaki-san returned.

She couldn't help but think leisurely.

There is a feeling of emptiness deep inside.

Obviously in the crowd.

But extremely lonely.

A nickname like Pochi is essentially like this.

24 The past is over

A few months later, Nagasaki Suyo's text message bombardment began again.

In fact, Hibiki Iruma never blocked Nagasaki Soyo, he was always the one being ignored unilaterally.

Therefore, when he saw the large amount of chat from Nagasaki Suyo again, Iruma Hibiki unexpectedly looked a little emotional.

"Chihaya-san! If you go to England, do your best! I heard that life there is completely different from Tokyo."

"Yes, I will. But you're worrying too much, Ijichi-kun. It's only three years. He'll be back soon."

Chihaya Aine had a big smile on her face. Today she wore a pair of glasses, and her whole temperament changed a lot. She looked a bit like a British student.

"Eh!! That's three years later. Three years from now... maybe I'll be in college already, and Iruma will be a freshman in the Faculty of Literature at the University of Tokyo."

"Where's Pochi-chan? Where will she be in three years?"

Ijichi Hongxia asked curiously.

And for Goto Ichiri, this is what happened——

"Hahaha……"

She smiled awkwardly.

In fact, perhaps, she was not without a plan for this. For example, when she was daydreaming in junior high school, she had thought that since she would never be able to get into college, after graduating from high school, she would probably have to live with "Iruma-kun", the person who "loved her the most", and then get married and become a full-time housewife early.